10 Must-Have Online Tools and Apps For Freelancers

It’s becoming increasingly popular for workers, myself included, to jump on the freelancing/self-employment bandwagon. And rightfully so.

The economy is harsh place for employees, but entrepreneurs seem to be thriving. Being your own boss means you have unlimited income potential and the ability to create a better foundation for our future (and family’s future).

Since accepting new business opportunities, I’ve been focusing on new projects I’m passionate about, while making some good money from building my freedom business.

As a business owner, I wear multiple hats and juggle lots of different projects at once.

The key to making money as freelancer is this: utilize the right tools and software, so you can make your job easier which enables you to make more money.

That’s the goal of any freelancer! Below are my top 10 free must-have online tools and apps to make any freelancing career easier.

1. FreshBooks

FreshBooks is perfect for home businesses as well as freelancers and sub-contractors. One of my favorite features is the time tracking module that lets me “clock-in” and “clock-out” for each freelance job or project I’m working on.

After all my time is scheduled for the month, I can export my hours to an invoice with one click. Then I have the option of emailing the invoice or sending it via snail mail.

Clients or customers can pay using Paypal (with a flat $0.50 fee) or a regular paper check. The basic plan is free for up to 3 clients and comes with an app that syncs to your phone.

2. Paypal

Even if you don’t own a small business or side gig, you can still use Paypal to securely make/receive purchases or payments online. Wikipedia states that PayPal is:

a global e-commerce business allowing payments and money transfers to be made through the Internet. Online money transfers serve as electronic alternatives to paying with traditional paper methods, such as checks and money orders. – Source

I’ve used Paypal for about the past 6 years and without a doubt, it’s a must-have for any online business like Etsy or eBay.

But I recently found out it’s an essential tool for any blogger or freelancer too. Many of my clients (and contractors) send/receive invoices and payments through my Paypal address.

3. GoDaddy Bookkeeping

In the past, I’ve blogged about how you can simplify your small business accounting with GoDaddy Bookkeeping, but they just keep making it better and better. Outright organizes all of the expenses and income from small businesses like – eBay, Etsy, PayPal, Amazon, other banks and credit cards.

As a freelancer (and blogger) who sends invoices and receives payments through Paypal and Amazon – GoDaddy Bookkeeping is an essential tool.

I can easily see how much money I bring in, who my customers are and how what my expenses are. Plus I’ll be ready at tax time, with estimated taxes and the ability to import my expenses to a Schedule C (the tax form for self-employed taxpayers).

I spend less time on bookkeeping and more time on my business, which means more money for my biz. And isn’t that what we all want as freelancers? GoDaddy Bookkeeping is:

I can receive contracts and other documents via email, sign on the dotted line, save them using file sharing apps and return the signed form via email.

No printing, faxing or scanning required, which means I save a ton of money by not having to buy that equipment for my office. Your signature can be signed using your finger or imported from a signature photo you’ve downloaded from the computer.

5. Pocket

Haven’t heard of Pocket yet (formerly called Read It Later)? Whether you’re a freelancer or just someone who likes surfing the web, you’re missing out!

Pocket is a simple desktop app that syncs with your smartphone and tablet.

When you come across an article, a video, or an image that you like but don’t have the time to read it, you can save it to your “Pocket”.

6. Google Docs

What would I do without Google Docs! If you haven’t jumped on board yet, give it a try — you’ll be addicted shortly. I’m able to share docs, PDFs and spreadsheets with my team as well as freelance writing clients.

I can also create step-by-step guides for all my business systems and save them as PDFs for hiring VAs and contractors. It makes building a freedom business SO SIMPLE!

7. DropBox

I would be lost without DropBox! It’s a file sharing web and phone application that lets you share photos, documents and videos from anywhere in the world – so long as you have an internet connection.

This has been a lifesaver for me when I want to do a blog post from my computer at work, then I can pick up exactly where I left off when I get home on my laptop.

Like Google Docs, this app is perfect for traveling entrepreneurs and freelancers who want to save money and time on the go. I also use it to transfer videos and photos to my friends and family without taking up all their inbox memory.

Bonus Apps: I also use some other fantastic apps to keep my freelance business running smoothly. A few of my other favorites include:

Cheddar: a website and app that lets you organize your tasks anywhere and everywhere and syncs with all your devices.

CalenMob: an iPhone/iPad calendar app that organizes your meetings, deadlines and other important tasks all at a glance. It syncs with Google Calendar on your desktop.

Evernote: both a web and mobile application that saves ideas, take notes, captures photos, creates to-do lists and increases productivity.

Obviously there are tons more online tools and apps out there, but these are just the ones help my business on a daily basis.

About the author: Carrie Smith is the financial artist and owner of Careful Cents, a site that helps creative freelancers discover the art of making a living. In May 2013 she quit her full-time accounting job to pursue entrepreneurship and blogging. She recently launched her new course called, Solopreneur Finance: Managing Money On Your Own Terms. When she’s not writing about finance, and geeking out over numbers, she enjoys painting, sketching, and making food with her chef husband. You can connect with her in real time on Twitter or Instagram: @carefulcents.

Careful Cents is a blog about the ups-and-downs of being a solopreneur, and features ideas and strategies to tackle financial mountains, while making a living on your terms.

In 2012 I paid off over $14,000 of consumer debt, then quit my full-time accounting job a year later. Since then I've launched the Careful Cents Club and built a community of over 7,000 creative freelancers.